Providing current information about ISPs, Cellular, Wi-Fi and Satellite of special interest to RVers and the RVing lifestyle.
RV Internet - Providing current information about ISPs, Cellular, Wi-Fi and Satellite of special interest to RVers and the RVing lifestyle.
 
 

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

 

Online, Even if You’re Off-Road

Cellphones that can be used to browse Web sites and e-mail can also funnel data to and from a laptop, using a U.S.B. cable or a Bluetooth link. This is called tethering.

Carriers once frowned on this and tried to discourage computer-savvy customers from trying it. Their strategy was intended to get customers to buy an entirely separate service for their computer. Now the major companies are embracing the idea because they are making money by increasing the fees for cellphone data plans — which for some cellphone users have become indispensable.

The service has improved over the early years. Now some users who spend most of the time near cellphone towers often report excellent connections with download speeds from 500 kilobits a second to well past 1,000 kilobits a second, comparable to the speeds at home over D.S.L.
Full Story...
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The RV Care & Maintenance DVD addresses issues like: information on the proper care and maintenance for the interior of your RV, the exterior of your RV, RV appliances, LP gas system, water system, electrical system, RV generators, RV batteryís, chassis & frame and RV tires. Let RV expert Mark Polk, help you to thoroughly understand how to take care of your RV. Watch as many times as you need to.

Monday, July 28, 2008

 

A lower-cost alternative to Sprint & Verizon data plans

A lot of RVers are using cellular data cards and adaptors along with data plans to get internet access while on the road. Why not? It works well and internet service is available almost everywhere.

But many RVers can't justify $60 a month carriers like Sprint and Verizon charge.

Now there's a new service that offers nearly the same service for half the cost. Which means it might be easier to justify taking your internet connection with you.

Autonet Mobile is a Wireless Internet Service Provider offering internet connectivity within a car or RV. Their Autonet Mobile Router provides a WiFi hotspot allowing multiple passengers to connect their own WiFi gadgets to the internet at the same time. The service runs over both 3G and 2.5G (EVDO, IxRTT) cellular Data networks giving you the most coverage nationwide.

Hardware and Service for one fee.
Create an account with the company at $29.99 a month. Have the Autonet Mobile router installed in your RV and you're good to go.

A one-year contract is required so it's may not be justifiable for someone who only needs it for an occasional weekend trip in the RV. Then again, it's small enough to port to your car and use around town. It could also serve as a secondary internet connection at home.

But before you consider using it as a primary connection consider the 1G per month usage allowance. (Sprint & Verizon both have a 5 gig limit)

One gig may be enough for the casual internet user who goes online once or twice a day to send and receive a handful of emails and browse a few websites. But, don't plan on streaming much video or downloading many large files like podcasts or software updates.

Bottom line: If you want internet on the road and can live with the low usage allowance AutoNet Mobile is worth a look.
AutoNet Mobile

Thursday, July 24, 2008

 

Monaco Coach to slash executive pay

Monaco Coach Corp. approved on Monday a pay reduction for five of its executives.

The cuts by the Oregon-based motorhome manufacturer are designed to reduce debt by increasing cash flow and reducing expenses and return the company to profitability, according to a Securities and Exchange Committee filing.

During the performance period, which begins with the third quarter of 2008 and ends with the close of the second quarter in 2009, the base salaries of each executive will be reduced between 10 and 50 percent. Executives affected are:

* Kay Toolson, chairman of the board and CEO, who will get a 50-percent reduction;

* John Nepute, president, who will get a 30-percent reduction; and

* P. Martin Daley, vice president and chief financial officer; Richard Bond, senior vice president, secretary and chief administrative officer; and Michael Snell, vice president of sales and marketing, who will each see 15-percent reductions

Production at Monaco's plants in Wakarusa, Elkhart and Nappanee is expected to end about Sept. 17.
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Protect your RV and your family while on the road: Join Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service Today and save!

 

What you need to know about the latest DNS flaw

If you've been hearing or reading about the latest DNS (Domain Name System) flaw, you may be confused about how to defend yourself. Think of this as a cheatsheet, it's what you need to know in the fewest words possible.

The danger with the current DNS flaw is similar to someone modifying a phone book. Suppose you wanted call the Post Office to tell them to stop your mail for a few weeks while you won't be home. You look up the Post Office phone number in a hacked phone book and instead of calling the actual Post Office you end up calling bad guys and telling them when they can safely come and rob you.

Everything you do online depends on translating the name of a website (or email server or any other computer) into an IP address. The recently discovered DNS flaw, lets the bad guys control this translation. Thus, they can steer people to fake websites. Input sensitive information or passwords at a fake website and you can kiss your identity goodbye.

What to do?
Full Story...
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RV Education 101 has bundled it's instructional DVDs
Get a box set of their individual DVD titles for hours of one on one instruction. Not only does this eliminate the guess work as to which DVDs go together, but you SAVE significant money with the box set discount. There are DVD sets Class A, Class C & Trailers/5th Wheels.

 

Travelers Seek Mobile Connectivity to Stay in Touch on the Road

“Economic strain is forcing consumers to change their vacation patterns, which has them spending more time on the road and in and out of cellular signal range,” said Joe Banos, COO of Wilson Electronics. “Travelers want to stay within reach while having the most cost-effective and worry-free vacation possible. No matter where they are, or what service provider they use, Wilson Electronics delivers improved cellular signal performance in cars, RVs and boats, enabling vacationers to stay within reach.”

Wilson Electronics’ SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier kit keeps summer travelers connected by delivering unsurpassed cellular performance, significantly reducing dropped calls and enabling data card and mobile phone use in areas that typically have weak or unusable signals. The easy to use, plug-and-play kits expand coverage by up to 50 miles and provide up to six times the power and higher receiver sensitivity than a typical mobile phone alone.

“With Wilson Electronics, consumers can depend on cell phones and data cards to find online travel bargains, or stay within reach of friends, family or emergency help,” continued Banos. “The result helps ensure a successful trip this summer vacation season.”

Here are some additional ways travelers can take advantage of optimized signal performance for an affordable and enjoyable summer trip:

Online accessibility:

Do your research on the road. According to AOL Travel and Zogby International, 51 percent of all Americans will use the Internet to book most of their summer vacation travel plans this year. Advanced planning can take place while en route.
Online access to maps outlining the shortest route to a destination saves on gas and the stress of being lost.
Learn about the destination before you arrive. Access to regional sites, hiking and biking trails, beach ratings, affordable restaurants and ratings, and access up-to-the-minute travel bargains and “Web deals” can be accessed quickly with a strong signal connection.

Safety first: On the beach, in the mountains and everywhere in between

At a beach, in the country, or in the mountains, these are all areas that typically have poor signal performance. When an emergency situation takes place, the ability to make a phone call and access emergency personnel on your cell phone is crucial. An amplified signal can be a life-saving measure.
Real-time communication: Passing time in the car sharing vacation fun

Even on short road trips, finding things to do on the road can be a challenge. Staying connected with friends and family is a convenient way to pass the time. Strong signal strength and avoiding dropped calls make these conversations easy.
The mobile office: When leaving work behind is not an option

Sacrificing a little downtime to stay connected while traveling will make coming back to the office less stressful. Checking in a few times during a vacation can help avoid being overwhelmed when returning to the office.

Sometimes the big deal cannot wait. Staying connected on vacation in the middle of a business deal is extremely important. The effects of a dropped call or missed email can be extensive and expensive.

The SignalBoost Mini-Mobile Amplifier kit is fully compatible with all hands-free devices such as BluetoothTM headsets or ear buds and is available at authorized Wilson Electronics dealers, including Radio Shack franchise stores. Visit the dealer locator page at www.wilsonelectronics.com for a list of stores by ZIP code or to buy the product immediately from an online retail partner.
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Willson 3Watt Cellular Amplifier Kit

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

 

Build a Future-Proof Home WiFi Network

PCMag.com
802.11, the IEEE specification referred to as Wi-Fi, is well into its latest version, known as 802.11n. The key to the success of any new flavor of Wi-Fi is to achieve backward compatibility while also improving on range and/or data rate, and 11n does all of that. It's the only way to go to get a next-gen Wi-Fi network today.
Full Story...
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The Triron 1200 Watt Portable Generator is a small, very low cost, alternative to the Hondas and Yamahas and it's EPA Approved

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

 

Get a free discussion forum for your club website

Want to have a place online where you club or RVing friends can get together but don't have a website or the ability to set up discussion form?

Try free forum hosting by lefora.com

They provide free forum hosting, the forum software, forum installation, and promotion of your forum.

It takes just a few clicks to get your forum up and running. It's easy!

Friday, July 11, 2008

 

Monster Outlets To Go 3 USB Powerstrip for Road Warriors

Monster, an industry leader in AC power and conditioning products, announced the introduction of the newest product in its popular “Outlets To Go™” lineup – Outlets To Go 3 USB. This “must-have” portable solution solves a nagging problem for many frequent travelers: how to plug in multiple electronic devices when there just never seem to be enough outlets!

“Outlets to Go 3 USB is designed specifically to meet the needs of travelers, including both ‘road warrior’ businesspeople and those on leisure trips,” said Noel Lee, The Head Monster. “It provides safe, convenient charging for multiple electronics like MP3 players and computers. In addition, the USB port gives you easy charging for any USB accessory: cell phones, digital cameras, and more. The compact design and integrated cord management means it can fit easily into a small bag or laptop case. You get convenient and safe power wherever and whenever you need it: hotels, airports, meeting rooms and more!”

Outlets To Go is small, light and compact and it features the Monsterous™ patent pending Road Warrior design. The Dual-Side Design provides for maximum outlets in a minimum of space. The Lighted FlatProfile™ Plug and FlatWrap super-flexible power cord makes for added convenience. The Blue LED indicator circuit breaker enhances hotel room safety, prevents overloads and is easily reset.

Monster Outlets To Go 3 USB
is black and carries a suggested retail price of $29.99. Outlets To Go without USB port are available in 3-, 4- and 6-plug models in white, silver and black.
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Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies Learn how to get connected on the road. Covers WiFi, choosing equipment and services, protecting data, managing your business and personal affairs, enjoying online entertainment and more.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

 

D-LINK Drops Price for Two Popular WiFi Routers

The price drops on the DIR-615 and DIR-655 comes on the heels of D-Link launching its RangeBooster N Router (DIR-628), which provides an aggressive good/better/best line-up of 11n families designed to meet all needs.

“Wi-Fi has proven to be the best solution for building out a home network, and 802.11n is an important step in the evolution of the technology, providing exceptional speeds and range for consumers looking to build out a digital home,” said Steven Joe, president and CEO at D-Link, in a statement. “We have the best performing routers on the market, and this aggressive price drop supports our initiatives to also provide the best value in 802.11n with a variety of price ranges and features for every budget.”
Full Story...
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D-Link DIR-615 4-Port 10/100 Mbps Wireless N Router
D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router

Sunday, July 06, 2008

 

How to Get "free" Wi-Fi at Starbucks

It's not totally free because you only get two hours per day and you have to have spent some money in the past 30 days to use it. But hey, it's better than nothing.

1. If you already have a Starbucks card that you have used or added money to in the past 30 days, skip to step 2. If you have a Starbucks card, but haven't used it or added any money to it in the past 30 days, go to Starbucks and add money to the card or use it, if it still has a balance. You can also add money online. If you don't have a card, you can get one at Starbucks, but you have to load it with at least $5 to get one.
Full Story...
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Protect your RV and your family while on the road: Join Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service Today and save!

Thursday, July 03, 2008

 

Boingo offers new Mac-compatible client for WiFi network

Boingo, one of the largest WiFi hotspot network operators, has a new GoBoingo! for Mac client compatible with Intel-based MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The software automatically detects when a Boingo network hotspot is in range and offers a simple, one-click connection to get online fast.

The GoBoingo! for Mac software will run on any Intel-based MacBook running 10.4 or 10.5 as well as Powerbooks running 10.4. To promote its new Mac client, Boingo is offering a free day of access for downloading the client and trying it out. If you have a Boingo account, you can access Boingo network hotspots with your iPhone as well.
Full Story...
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Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies Learn how to get connected on the road. Covers WiFi, choosing equipment and services, protecting data, managing your business and personal affairs, enjoying online entertainment and more.

 

Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router


The sleek Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router works in two radio bands at the same time, delivering twice the bandwidth for smooth high-definition video, lag free gaming, and uninterrupted music in one band, while browsing the Internet, sharing files, sending e-mail, and printing in the other. Wireless-N gives you incredible range and speed in both bands, while Linksys' Entertainment Optimized Networking (EON) technology prioritizes network traffic so that time-sensitive applications like HD video stream smoothly.

The Storage Link feature lets you connect a hard drive or flash-based USB storage device directly to your network to easily add gigabytes of storage. Access your music, video, or data files from any PC within your network, or securely through the Internet. The 4 built-in Gigabit ports provide far faster connections to your wired devices than standard Ethernet ports.

Setup is quick and easy with the PC or Mac compatible Setup Wizard, and making secure wireless connections is as simple as pressing a button with Wi-Fi Protected Setup™. Use the included Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) program as your personal technology expert to help manage and optimize your network as it grows.
Linksys WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router